You carefully pack your luggage with everything you could possibly need for the next two weeks and arrive at the airport a few hours in advance. But, when you step off your flight, you discover that the airline has misplaced your luggage. It’s inconvenient and possibly very costly. By putting a clearly written luggage tag with important information on your bags, you might be able to expedite or save your luggage.
Write your name as it appears on your boarding pass. If the tag specifies the order of proper and common names, conform to it. If not, put your last name first. Don’t use nicknames or abbreviations as this might complicate the process. In the case that the suitcase is shared by the family, choose the primary contact person. Avoid using maiden or middle names unless necessary.
Add the cell phone number of the primary contact person. Again, the number should be clearly written, with the area code in parentheses. Also, draw dashes through 7s and 0s, to prevent a misreading. Remember to have available voice mail space in case the person needs to leave a message.
Write down the number of the destination contact. Having the hotel or the residence will help, if your phone dies or otherwise is misplaced. It will be useful, too, if the contact needs to arrange to have your bags redirected to a physical address. If you will have multiple destinations, choose the contact that is most reliable.
Give an e-mail address at which you can be reached. Often, it is best to use the e-mail address that is associated with your plane reservation. Also, make sure that your mailbox has enough room and that your account is not set to send unusual emails to your spam box.
